Educational Research and Educational Psychology

The Department of Educational Research and Educational Psychology is dedicated to studying educational processes in STEM subjects across the lifespan, covering factors related to individuals, their family settings, the classroom, schools, and learners’ out-of-school activities. Our focus on the system level manifests in the Department's involvement in large-scale assessments such as TIMSS, ICILS, and PISA.

Research in the Department contributes to a better understanding of successful educational processes and generates knowledge for improving educational practice. Due to the thematic focus of the IPN, the emphasis is placed on the natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics, but the work is not limited to these areas alone. Rather, the research is based on the conviction that acquiring mathematical, IT and scientific skills can be better understood in its interplay with social-emotional characteristics and language skills in German and the lingua franca English. In this vein, we extend our research beyond the IPN's focal emphasis on STEM subjects to encompass these additional aspects of education and learning. Further, we strive to explore ways of using digital technologies to support the teaching and learning processes of the future.

In addition to our research and our involvement in major international largs-scale assessments, the Department provides substantial support and infrastructure services, including the development of achievement tests in the National Education Panel Study (NEPS).

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